After the wowing opening number set on Main Street, U.S.A., the program switched to The Dolby Theater and my heart sank. For two minutes, celebrity after celebrity was announced to appear in the program.
“Oh no,” I thought. “This is a star-studded show. It’s going to be all about the stars and and not about The Happiest Place On Earth at all.”
And I was right. Here are the top five highlights and lowlights to the Disneyland 60th Special:
Villains/Low lights
5. Clothes not usually allowed in the park swishing around on national TV
As soon as the program started, there they were – the female dancers, or should I say the female dancer costumes, what remained of them anyway. The costumes for men were dapper and spiffy, suits and ties, and the women are clad in beaded nothings up and down Main Street. Just how Walt would’ve wanted it, right? The performers were outstanding, I just wish the women were given as dapper costumes as the men.
4. Few and far between actors with Disney experience
Ok all of the actors shown are or have been on ABC or an affiliated network before. But very few of them were actors we usually associate with Disney. True, Dick Van Dyke and Josh Gadd (we’ll give another nod to them later) wee featured but most other stars were Jimmy Kimmel, NeYo and Tori Kelly type celebs. Bring on the Imagineers and Disney movie stars, people!
3. The Disneyland Applause App was a dud
Here is what the app was supposed to do:
The app supposedly infused with Made With Magic technology was a big flop. The opening number worked and was very promising with fun details of the parade floats and fireworks to interact with. After the first number it stopped working. The app I was so excited about, tweeted about for days and the pre-recorded show suggested to download throughout the show didn’t work after the first number. Read: disappointed.
2. Disneyland ABC Special
Since ABC hosted the program, I knew ABC ads would abound but I wasn’t expecting an entire special to overdose the audience on ABC. From the presenters to ads in the special itself, ABC was obviously puffing itself up. At least half of the speakers were actors only associated with Disney thanks to their role on Modern Family, Once Upon a Time or Scandal. All amazing shows but it felt like ABC overshadowed the real reason for the special.
1. Almost none of the show was IN Disneyland.
In a Disneyland special, you’d think the program would be set mostly in the object of the show. Nope, the show was only in Disneyland five times, for four musical performance and one showcase of a giddy Josh Gad in Walt’s apartment and the Disneyland dream suite. Most of the time was spent in The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood announcing various ABC stars to talk about Disney in some way.
Heroes/Highlights
5. Showcasing classic Disney characters
From characters to ear hats, Disney characters were got some love during the show. Kermit T. Frog made a guest appearance and Jimmy Kimmel donned a Dumbo ear hat. I expected more, but at least they got a little love.
Here is Kermit and Tori Kelly singing “Rainbow Connection.” It’s OK, you can cry too.
4. When Dick Van Dyke “Stepped In Time”
About an hour into the program, out come celebs singing remixes of Disney classics. Apparently we’ve “Got A Friend” in NeYo and Dick Van Dyke pulled out some of his old moves with the chimney sweeps. That was exactly what I wanted from the show – a mixture of modern and nostalgia of the old magic.
(Van Dyke makes his appearance at 1:15)
3. The Tidbits of Disney Magic
Despite the Dolby a Theater as the main venue, video montages and touching photos of Disneyland were tossed in. They have to throw the Disney fans a bone here. Clips showcasing Disneyland’s first day and Walt’s dedication to Mickey brought the real magic to the program. They reminded us of Walt’s dream and dedication to Mickey and a place where parents and children could experience s touch of pixie dust together.
2. The Sneak Peaks
The program featured two glimpses of the future Star Wars Lands in Disneyland and Disney Shanghai. And they were awesome. But I already knew the information presented. That being said, I did enjoy the visualizations and concept drawings featured.
1. Walt’s Apartment
Out of the two-hour special, a five minute segment really hit home. I teared up when Josh Gad gave a tour of Walt’s apartment facing Main Street USA. The hashtag, #Disneyland60, became flooded with tweets about Walt’s lamp permanently burning above the firehouse so cast members would know he will always watch over his biggest project and dream.
That’s what I wanted to see the most. The biggest letdown of the program was that it was just an ad for ABC, not a tribute to a man and his dedication that identifies the American Dream. Audiences got more sentiment and a sense of wonder out of five minutes than the two-hour special.
Of Mice And Mickey Waffles 